In this article, you will discover the best free Photoshop alternatives.
Photoshop has been a photo editing industry standard for decades, but it’s expensive for those who only use it occasionally.
Photoshop is a complete image editing and graphic design software but can be complicated to learn for the most novice among us.
And at $23 per month, Photoshop may not be the best option for many beginners.
If you’re looking for a free Photoshop alternative, you’ve come to the right place.
This guide will walk you through 8 free alternatives to Photoshop.
Some are perfect for basic photo editing, others can be used for graphic design, and still others offer the best of both worlds.
Summary
- Top 8 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives
- How to manage your tasks easily?
- How to improve your photos for free?
Top 8 Best Free Photoshop Alternatives
Photopea
Photopea is a free Photoshop alternative very interesting since the interface is essentially the same.
The two major differences are that the application is free (entirely) and that this does not require any download.
This software supports a range of file formats, including PSD, but does not offer all of Photoshop’s editing tools.
The interface is similar to Photoshop, making it easy to switch between programs without a big learning curve.
Photopea supports layer editing on imported PSD files and helps instantly enhance photos with basic adjustments.
It also supports raster and vector graphics!
GIMP
Perhaps the most well-known Photoshop alternative, GIMP has been around for years and is one of the first photo editing software that comes to many people’s minds when they think “free Photoshop.”
It’s an open-source tool available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and the official site offers many useful tutorials.
GIMP includes advanced features such as layer masks and filters. There are many downloadable add-ons to suit your needs.
Photographers and graphic designers will find the tools they need to complete the majority of their work, and GIMP supports a wide range of file formats.
However, the interface is nowhere near as intuitive as that of Adobe and the other alternatives on this list.
Apple photos
Apple Photos is a good free Photoshop alternative for Mac users.
Indeed, Apple Photos is installed on every Mac computer and offers simple editing tools to quickly improve your photos.
It’s also a great place to store your images, allowing you to organize photos by date or sort them into folders.
Basic adjustments such as color correction, brightness, saturation and contrast can be made with a single click.
Apple Photos is simple to use and functions as a photo organization system and editor at the same time.
The photo editing tools are the same on desktop as in the iOS app, so the interface is especially simple for Apple users.
Apple Photos is only available for Mac and iOS and its tools are very limited. It does not support layers or advanced adjustments.
Pixlr
Pixlr is a unique photo editing software because it is a completely web-based photo editor.
It allows you to make basic adjustments such as vignettes, color correction, saturation, contrast and frames. The mobile version makes it easy to edit photos on the go.
Pixlr is a good choice for those who don’t have room for more software on their computer. The interface is easy to use and reminiscent of Photoshop. Pixlr even supports layers, which is hard to find in an online editor.
Small flat, you will need a permanent Internet connection to edit photos with Pixlr.
Can go
Canva is image editing software that helps you create designs with your team.
This tool contains many photos, illustrations and icons. You can use it to add stickers to your photo.
Canva is much more than online photo editing software but is a real hub for creating marketing visuals.
Canva is a powerful tool with a very generous free version.
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Raw Therapy
Raw Therapee is an open-source alternative to Photoshop. This open-source photo editing software is ideal for beginners.
With just a few clicks, you can instantly sort your photos, improve exposure, adjust color and white balance, increase clarity, and more.
Raw Therapee also gives you the ability to create collages and add frames to your photos.
Sketch
Sketch is a Mac design software that can be a promising alternative to Photoshop for limited needs.
Indeed, beyond a simple design software, Sketch allows you to modify your images and create pretty cool collages.
You won’t be able to have very advanced photo editing features, but the ease of use makes it a formidable tool.
Figma
Figma is the direct competitor of Sketch and also allows you to create photo collages very quickly as well as manage layers.
However, if you want to have more photo editing features like editing and montage, we recommend you to go for another tool from our list.
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Why use a free Photoshop alternative?
Photoshop is a superb photo editing tool.
However, if you just want to quickly edit an image or you are a beginner, Photoshop may not be the best photo editing software.
Another problem is its price. If you are a one-time user, Photoshop will not be profitable for your use.
Today, many powerful, free Photoshop alternatives exist that can perform most of the tasks that Photoshop does.
You can enhance your photos through filters, changing settings through photo editing software and many other ways.
To do this, you can use Photoshop but the solution costs and is complex to get started.
We recommend using other tools like Photopea or Canva to quickly improve your photos for free.
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